Reply to Why does Montgomery County Subsidize Taxes for Country Clubs?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

Then they can pay a premium for privacy.  I'd say that any facility that is open to the public, e.g. to any tax paying resident, can retain the discounted rate as it is providing it's discounted services/amenities to all tax paying residents.  Those who wish to retain the right to limit membership so that only some residents can access their facilities, should pay the same residential tax rate that citizens pay to have private property.

So, you get the discounted rate if open to everyone.  You pay the going property tax rates if you want to be private; thus it becomes just like your home.[/quote]

I am stunned that people think this way. A club is a club. Whether to be open to the public or not is a business decision. It's abhorrent that people can advocate different tax rates based what a membership constituency looks like. [b]Hell, even a poll tax was less discriminatory because everyone had to pay the same rate.[/b] [/quote]

Really?  I am stunned that there are so many who think that it is right to use county taxes to subsidize services for a select few.  Why does the county subsidize clubs and not other businesses?  Why is a club only open to a few hundred residents a priority for the county instead of other services that are available to any resident?  Yes, whether to be open to the public or not is a business decision.  But why does it require a county subsidy that only benefits less than 0.1% of the population?  The only reason I can see to give them any reduced tax break is if they provide their services to any resident.  Otherwise, they can pay the same tax rates that individual residents and other businesses pay for property tax.

Your argument supports us.  Yes, taxes should be the same for everyone.  And the point is that the clubs do not pay the same as everyone.  They get a discounted tax rate.  They should be paying the same as every other business in the county pays for their property.  The only reason to give them a tax break would be if they offered their services to everyone in the county.  Barring that, I agree with you that they should pay the same rate as everyone else.  Just like you do.
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